us from death and hell ? He so loved the world as to give his Son for us. Was more necessary ? Was it necessary that the third Person of the blessed Trinity should bear testimony to Christ, and qualify persons to make him known to the world, and actually render their labours effectual for that end? Behold, God sent his Holy Spirit to work this stupendous miracle in confirmation of Christ's Messiahship, and to endue his servants with such powers as were necessary for the preaching of his Gospel to every creature, and to convert to the faith of Christ thousands who but lately had crucified him as a malefactor. What then will he not do for those who desire to be saved ? What will he refuse us, who has, unsought and unsolicited, done such great things for us ? Let us bear in mind that we are as much interested in these things as those who lived in the apostolic age ; for " the promise is to us, and to our children, and to as many as the Lord our God shall call" -_]
2. What a striking resemblance appears between the events of that day, and the period wherein we live!
[We confess that miracles have ceased, and that the ope- rations of the Spirit are no longer audible in sounds, or visible in tongues of fire : but have they therefore ceased ? No : we affirm that they yet exist ; and that too in no common mea- sure or degree. Persons, it is true, are not enabled to address themselves successively, without any previous study, to foreigners of every country in their own vernacular tongue ; but persons are stirred up to study different languages, and to translate the Scriptures into those languages, so that persons of every country may adopt the same acknowledgment as was used on the day of Pentecost ; " We do, every man in his own tongue, hear spoken to us the wonderful works of Godk." Nor is this effect produced in any slight or partial degree ; for persons of every rank, and almost of every nation, are contri- buting to this blessed end. In our own nation, such an atten- tion has been excited to this work as has never been known since the apostolic age. Nobles, as well as others, have united in disseminating the Holy Scriptures, and in spreading the knowledge of them to the ends of the earth. Is not this work of God ? Yes ; and, by whomsoever it be opposed, it shall stand; nor shall all the powers of hell prevail against it1.]
3. How certainly may we expect, ere long, a yet greater work !
[God has reserved in his own power the times and the seasons wherein he will work : but he has assured us, that in
k ver. 6, 8, 11. i Tn the year 1812.